Gopher and Rodent Control

[Bird]

Dan, in the late '40s my Dad drove a truck in south central Oklahoma selling welding supplies, including cans of carbide (I think they were about 25 gallon sized cans). And occasionally I got to go with him on the truck. I remember once when a fellow had spilled a big pile of carbide and didn't want it with any dirt mixed in, so I got to keep it for cleaning it up. I could take a coffee can of water and dump a tablespoonful of carbide in it and watch the water "boil". And if you were quick with a match, you could have fire on top of water. Now Dad told me to never use more than one tablespoonful at a time, but you know the effects really don't last long at all. So one day, I quickly put 3 or 4 tablespoonfuls of carbide in the water and lit it. There was a small explosion and I thought my hand was going to burn off.:laughing: I had to keep my red hand out of sight for a day or two because I knew what kind of beating I'd get if Dad saw it.

But like you, I wouldn't even know where to buy carbide anymore.

 

[Car Doc]

When we were kids we used to use calcium carbide (The stuff miner's used to light their miners' lamps on their hardhats.) It looks like pea gravel. Dump it in the run pour water on it and let it permeate the tunnel matrix. About 1/2 the time when we were kids and got bored waiting for it to work we would put a waterproof fuse in the tunnel and light it. If you had enough gas vapors it would explode. We thought it was cool.

I don't know if you can still get the calcium carbide or not.

Here ya go. BIG-BANG Cannons Conestoga Company

btw it makes aceteline fwtw.

 

[creekbend]

I don't think that the nearly $1,000.00 purchase price is that absurd. Just think about it? The Company is supplying an additional 1-one gallon fuel container along with a 3-three gallon supply of gas treatment at "NO ADDITIONAL COST". Since the product's patent is pending, the possibility of future lawsuits by PETA, will most probably result in bankrupting the Parent Company. The Company will surely have difficulty in supplying adequate and substantiated proof that their product actually and positively is safe for "non targeted animals". :laughing:

 

[creekbend]

I sincerely apologize for inserting this additional post, but I treat BS with the adequate response that it needs. The Parent Company claims that their product will work in eradicating prairie dog infestation. Almost everyone knows that prairie dog burrows incorporate more than one entrance-sometimes as many as half a dozen. Is this a ploy to sell additional machines? There must be chemical carcinogens in their drinking water that they are unaware of. As a result, their mental capacity for utilizing deductive reasoning has most surely been significantly diminished. Only my opinion, it is not my intention to step on anyone's toes.

 

[bigdad]

Dan, in the late '40s my Dad drove a truck in south central Oklahoma selling welding supplies, including cans of carbide (I think they were about 25 gallon sized cans). And occasionally I got to go with him on the truck. I remember once when a fellow had spilled a big pile of carbide and didn't want it with any dirt mixed in, so I got to keep it for cleaning it up. I could take a coffee can of water and dump a tablespoonful of carbide in it and watch the water "boil". And if you were quick with a match, you could have fire on top of water. Now Dad told me to never use more than one tablespoonful at a time, but you know the effects really don't last long at all. So one day, I quickly put 3 or 4 tablespoonfuls of carbide in the water and lit it. There was a small explosion and I thought my hand was going to burn off.:laughing: I had to keep my red hand out of sight for a day or two because I knew what kind of beating I'd get if Dad saw it.

But like you, I wouldn't even know where to buy carbide anymore.

I saw the after effect of carbide flushed into a school toilet. Didn't hang around because I didn't want to get involved with that one!

 

[Bird]

I saw the after effect of carbide flushed into a school toilet. Didn't hang around because I didn't want to get involved with that one!

No, I don't think I'd have hung around either.:laughing:

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I had a problem with too many striped ground squirrels around.
Regardless what is said, they can be quite destructive.

I used a Victor rat trap.
Bait the trap with a salted in the shell peanut. Tied to the trigger with a bread bad twist tie.

Drill a hole in the board and put a cord on it so any critter that cares to consume the contents of the trap doesn't carry off your trap where you can't find it.

Not real high tec........ But it works.

Good luck

 

[two_bit_score]

Here the best gopher trap.





Just find a fresh mound and dig it down to the tunnel and set it and wait a while.

 

[1955jd]

i think i tried about everything for moles ..and i am over run with them the last few years....the best thing that i have to get rid of them is my dog....lol...that dog will sit at a tunnel and wait for what seems hours if need be and soon as one comes along he digs it up and kills the critter...but like i say the last few years even the dog can't keep up with them

 

[KYDan]

No, I don't think I'd have hung around either.:laughing:

Cherry bombs have the same effect and generally result in eternal detention hall.